Organic agriculture and climate change

Organic agriculture and climate change

A recent study by McGee (2005) from the University of Oregon “Does certified organic farming reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural production?” has led to discussions in international media and on the web. This study addresses an interesting question and applies advanced statistics for its analysis. However, scientists from FiBL identify several methodological flaws that invalidate the results. Find a summary below and click here for more information.

First, McGee (2015) tests a hypothesis that does not correspond to his main question, and which does not allow McGee to derive the conclusions that are drawn in his paper and reported in the media coverage. Second, the data used are not adequate for the analysis because: i) the dependent variable does not reflect the greenhouse gas emissions characteristics of organic agriculture (e.g. different emission factors in organic and conventional agriculture or avoidance of emissions from fertilizer production), ii) the explanatory variables neglect the livestock sector, and iii) trade aspects are missing. Third, McGee fails to discuss his findings in the light of quite a substantial body of experimental, bio-physical research from the US and elsewhere.

Contrary to McGee’s study, there is a good body of peer-reviewed science clearly showing that not only does organic farming emit less greenhouse gases, because it captures CO2 and stores it in the ground as soil organic matter, organic farming also reduces greenhouse gas emissions.